Car-coupling



(No Model.)

P. M. REAGAN.

GAR COUPLING. No. 515,719. Patented Feb. 27, 1894.

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iau? flag 060 w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL M. REAGAN, OF OHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE HINSONCAR-OOUPLER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,719, dated February27, 1894.

Application filed N b 2, 1893. S i l No, $89,842- (No model-l To whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL M. REAGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chattanooga, 1n the county of Hamilton and State 5 ofTennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gar-Couplers,of which the follow ng is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the type of car-coupler inwhich a draw-bar to is provided with an expanded head having pivotallysupported in it, to swing laterally outward and inward, a jaw orknuckle, and a locking bar extending normally into the path of the tal-piece 0f the jaw or knuckle to obstruct it against outward swingingand consequent uncoupling action.

The objects of my invention are, first,'to provide neans which shallcause automatic uncoupling of the coupler in case of its attachments tothe car being broken or giving way; and second to adapt said means, incase of fracture of the head-portion of the drawbar, to sustain thefractured portion against falling upon the track, where it would be lia-2 5 ble to cause damage, such as derailin g of cars.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing by a view of acar-coupler involvmg it and shown inlongitudinal sectional elevation.

I A is a coupler of any desired construction in the type referred to,towhich my improvement 1s applicable, and comprising a drawbarterminating in an expanded head 0 carrying at one side the pivotal jaworknuckle D, and a lock for the jaw of the kind tending to obstruct theswinging of the jaw and prevent uncoupling by extending normally intothe path of the tail-piece of the jaw. The form of lock illustrated isthat of a bar E suspended in the head to hang across the path ofthetail-piece of thej aw, hein g controlled by a spr ng '1' which tendsto force itinto its normal position.Atitslower'endthelockingbarprotrudes through the base of the headthrough a 5 slot 19. Behind the bar E, in the hollow drawbar B, is alever F, fulcrumed at its upper end in the upper side of the draw-bar tohang at its fulcrum, and passing through a longitudinal slot 19 in thebase of the draw-bar to project beyond the same. The space between thebars E and F is that at which the drawbar rests on the support G,forming part of the base of the draw-bar housing on a car; and thedistance of the lever F behind its rest G is greater than the extent ofnatural longi- 5 5 tudinal play of the draw-bar, whereby in the normallongitudinal forward movement of the latter the projecting end of thelever shall not strike against the stop afforded by the rest G. Theprojecting end of the lever F is connected with that of the locking-barE, the medium of connection between the two being shown as a chain H,which, though preferred, is not the only means that may be used for thepurpose.

As will be seen, in case of the attachments which fasten the draw-bar inplace, giving way, so that the draft on the coupler will pull out thedraw-bar beyond the normal limit permitted by its controlling spring I,the lower projecting end of the lever F will abut against the stopGandbe forced backward; and owing to its connection with the locking-barE, the latter will thereby also be pulled backward and out of the pathof the tail-piece of the coupler-j aw, permitting the draft on thelatter 7 5 to swing it outward and efiect uncoupling. And should thehead 0 be broken off behind the locking-bar, it cannot fall on thetrack, but will hang by the connection H from the lever F.

My improved automatic uncoupling device may, obviously, be used inconnection with other and known forms, than that herein shown anddescribed, of locking-bar; hence I do not limit my invention to its usewith that 8 5 particular locking-bar.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a car-coupler of the character described, a leverf ulcrumed at one end in the draw-bar to hang therein and projectthrough its base behind and into the plane of the part G of the bottomof the drawbar housing, a slot in the base of the drawbar through whichthe lever projects, and a chain H connecting the lever with thelockin'g-bar for the pivotal jaw of the coupler, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

2, In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-bar B, and head 0carrying the piv- IOO otal jaw D, of a. locking-bar E suspended in ingends of the said lever and locking-bar, the head to cross the path ofthe tail-piece of substantially as and for the purpose set forth. thejaw, a lever F fulerumed at one end on the top of the draw-bar to hangtherefrom and PAUL REAGAN' project through its base into andbehind theIn presence ofplane of the part G of the draw-bar housing, M. J. FROST,

and a chain H connecting the lower projeet- W. N. WILLIAMS.

